Born March 8, 1924, in Pigeon Grove to William and Golda Boyce Kupferschmid, he married Margaret Sherwood on June 29, 1947, in Creve Coeur at the Evangelical Reformed Church. She died on April 2, 1997. He later married Yvonnette Aaland on June 10, 2000, in Normal at Our Saviour Lutheran Church. She survives.

Also surviving are five sons, Alan (Linda), Dennis (Kathi), Brian (Janet) and Mark, all of East Peoria, and Glen (Debi) of Washington; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two stepchildren, Denise (Roger) Jones of Bloomington and Kenneth (Peggy) Aaland of Hoffman Estates; four step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters.

He proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. There were five major battles or campaigns in the European Theater; Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. He received Battle Stars for being involved in all five battles. He also received three Overseas Service Bars, the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with one Silver Battle Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Croix De Guerre with Palm and Fourragere, and a World War II Victory Medal.

He retired from Caterpillar Inc. on May 1, 1982, after 37 years of service as a supervisor.

He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Washington and a former member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Normal, as well as a member and president of the church council at Bethel Church in Creve Coeur. He was also president of the Church Council at Fondulac Congregational Church in East Peoria.

Funeral services were Jan. 24 at Faith Lutheran Church in Washington. Visitation was Jan. 23 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington as well as prior to the service at the church. The Rev. John Rothfusz officiated. Burial was in Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church or to Methodist Hospice.

His memorial website may be found at www.deitersfuneralhome.com where online condolences may also be sent to the family.